BUFFALO — Canisius scored twice in the third period to break a 2-2 tie and defeat rival Niagara, 4-2, in Atlantic Hockey Conference action Wednesday at KeyBank Rink in HARBORCENTER.
Sophomores Jimmy Mazza and Matt McLeod both found the back of the net during the final 20 minutes to help the Griffs (17-10-7, 16-4-6 AHC) extend the nation’s longest active unbeaten streak to 13 games. Senior Geoff Fortman and freshman Matt Hoover also scored for Canisius as it also stretched its lead in the Atlantic Hockey standings to three points over second place Air Force.
Stephan Pietrobon and Sam Rennaker accounted for the two Purple Eagle (3-25-3, 3-20-2 AHC) tallies.
The two teams battled back and forth over the opening 40 minutes before Canisius was able to pull away in the third and earn its third win of the season against Niagara.
Mazza provided the game-winning tally at the 8:59 mark of the final period when he fired a slap shot from the right sidewall off the post and into the net to give the Griffs a 3-2 cushion.
McLeod provided the insurance marker with a little more than six minutes remaining, beating Niagara keeper Jackson Teichreob over the right shoulder with a wrist shot from the middle of the slot.
Niagara took a 1-0 lead just 1:40 into the contest when Pietrobon shoveled home a loose puck past Canisius keeper Charles Williams from just in front of the left post.
Hoover brought the Griffs level at the 12:41 of the opening frame, putting a snap shot past Teichroeb from the middle of the slot during a Canisius rush for his seventh goal of the season.
The teams once again traded goals during the second period. Fortman gave Canisius its first lead of the game, 2-1, at the 15:44 mark when he beat Teichroeb glove side with a wrist shot from the left faceoff circle during a Griffs power play opportunity.
The Purple Eagles countered just 1:14 later when Rennaker slid the puck past Williams and into the net during a breakaway to knot the score at 2-2 and set up the decisive third period.
Williams made 19 saves in goal for Canisius while Teichroeb turned aside 28 shots between the pipes for Niagara.
The teams complete their regular season series Friday with a 7:05 p.m. contest at Dwyer Arena. The matchup serves as part of the Battle of the Bridge series between the two schools.
from GoGriffs.com via IFTTT
